Education:
BSc (Hons) Environmental Management (Sandwich)
Certificate in Management
MSc Alternative Waste Treatment Technology (Online Pilot)
Current Job:
Principal Consultant, Waste Strategy, Planning and Procurement
Employer:
Parsons Brinckerhoff Ltd (PB)
(1999) Sandwich placement with the Environment Agency during degree course, lead on to extended contract during the remainder of my studies;
(2001) Joined a local Landfill Gas and Engineering Company as a monitoring technician;
(2001) Joined the Shanks Waste Services – Management Training Programme;
Stayed with Shanks for 3 years working in a variety of departments including waste logistics, environmental management and business analysis – gaining valuable insight into the waste management industry;
(2004) Joined SLR consulting as a Project Consultant specialising in waste strategy and collections – gaining general consultancy experience.
Promoted to Senior Consultant within Waste Strategy team – gaining experience in proposal development, project management and financial management;
(2007) Joined PB as a Principal Consultant within Waste Strategy, Planning and Procurement team – gaining project management, proposal development, financial management, business development, line management experience.
(2008) Seconded to work at the companies Middle East office for at least a year.
What’s a typical day like?
60% Technical delivery of projects – detailed modelling, technology appraisals, report writing;
15% Business development – responding to tenders/preparing presentations;
10% Business administration;
10% Line management;
5% Recruitment
Best bits of your job?
Developing a new business, raising the profile of PB;
Working on high profile challenging jobs all over the world – opportunities to work and manage projects that will effect the way people live – such as the development of a new carbon neutral city in the Middle East;
Successful project management – getting a project done on time and on budget – with thought provoking results;
Working on an international scale –getting involved and working in other countries – just back from UAE, planning work in South Africa;
Developing good working relationships;
Diversification of my workload – I get to work on non waste work too, EIA, TDD, Auditing, Sustainable development.
Worst bits of your job?
Not enough hours in the day!
Losing out on work.
What would you like to be doing in five years time?
Continuing in the same vein having developed a business unit that offers high quality expertise to high profile clients globally and locally and puts into practice the best from all over the world.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in waste management, prevention and recycling?
Be willing to start small but think big;
Try to look at the bigger picture and your own longer term objectives;
Be willing to diversify;
Keep up to date with the waste management industry – attend conferences and seminars where possible.
